• Mack Adds Senior Staff, Electric Presses


Arlington, VT-based Mack Molding Co. has reshuffled responsibilities and added new staff to its senior management team, it was announced by Jeff Somple, president, Northern Operations. Set in motion by the retirement of a long-term employee – Bruce Bixler, who served the company for 36 years – the reorganization tapped internal talent that collectively brings 80 years of plastics industry expertise to the table.

• Freudenberg Group Acquires 50 percent Stake in VistaMed Ltd.


The Weinheim, Germany-based Freudenberg Group and its affiliate Helix Medical Europe have acquired a 50 percent share of VistaMed Ltd., the Irish manufacturer of components for medical devices. The two companies are expecting the cooperation to provide synergies in the development of products and services as well as market penetration. With this move, the Freudenberg Group is expanding its activities in this growth industry. Only a year ago, Freudenberg set up its European headquarters for medical technology in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

• CareFusion to Acquire IV Innovator Medegen
  CareFusion Corp., a leading, global medical device company, announced an agreement to acquire Medegen, a leading innovator in clinically differentiated needleless access valves and administration sets that deliver intravenous (IV) medication to patients, for $225 million in cash.

• Nypro Unveils New Website

Clinton, Massachusetts-based Nypro introduced a new website at its long-time domain, www.nypro.com. The completely redesigned website presents the Nypro corporate culture in simple concepts.
 

• M.R. Mold Announces New Website, 25^th Anniversary
  In February, M.R. Mold & Engineering announced the launch of its new website, with the assistance of DezTech Consulting LLC of Huntington Beach, CA, featuring a number of improvements to coincide with its 25th Anniversary year and to showcase its proprietary line of molding accessories. The project was completed in only 3 week's time so that the new website would be up in time for the MD&M West show in Anaheim, CA.

Die Cast Tooling

• NADCA President Daniel Twarog Receives the Ray H. Witt Award
  The Ray H. Witt Award, established in 1999, is given to an individual for his/her leadership in the aluminum casting industry for investing resources to broaden the technology base, for introducing advanced concepts and techniques, for encouraging the education and training of new talent and for inspiring others to advance the industry through technical achievement. This year the Advanced Casting Research Center at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute is giving the Ray H. Witt Award to Daniel Twarog. 

• MedTech Tooling Expansion
  The MedTech Group Inc., South Plainfield, NJ, announced plans for expansion of their global capabilities. The company will be establishing a best-in-class mold building presence in Heredia, Costa Rica.  
   

• Helix Medical Opens Manufacturing Operations in Europe
  Helix Medical, LLC, a global manufacturer for the medical device, health care, pharmaceutical, IVD, and biotech industries, announced the opening of Helix Medical Europe KG.  
   

• Smart Duma® Closure Makes Integrated Seal Possible
  Tablet manufacturers supplying both European and US markets no longer need to adjust their filling processes to take account of different packaging systems: under the Duma® brand name, Gerresheimer has developed a twist-off closure which also includes the foil seal required for the container in the USA. Whether with an integrated seal or without: externally the containers are completely identical.

Die Cast Tooling

• Register to Attend CastExpo’10 Before March 1
  North American Die Casting Association (NADCA) and American Foundry Society (AFS) join forces again for CastExpo’10. Attendees are urged to register before March 1 in order to take advantage of a significant discount on admission. 

Blow Mold Tooling

• Alpha Packaging Introduces Larger Sizes of PET Liquid Bottles
  Alpha Packaging, a leading manufacturer of plastic bottles and jars for the personal care, pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement industries, has recently introduced four 32-ounce narrow-neck bottles that are made using a 2-stage blow molding process. Each of the new 32-ounce bottles represent the largest size in Alpha’s four most popular polyethylene terephthalate (PET) liquid lines: Boston Rounds, Cosmo Rounds, Modern Rounds and Capri Ovals.

• Gerresheimer Sets Up New Production Facility in Brazil
  The Gerresheimer Group has set up a new facility for medical plastic systems in Indaiatuba (Brazil). The plant is to commence operations early in 2010. On the basis of a long-term cooperation agreement with Novo Nordisk, components will be produced with state-of-the-art technology for insulin pen systems for diabetics.
   

• Berry Plastics Completes Acquisition of Superfos Packaging
  Berry Plastics Corporation announced that it has completed the previously disclosed acquisition of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Superfos Packaging, Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Superfos a/s, located in Taastrup, Denmark.
   

• Canon Virginia Names New President and CEO
  Mr. Yusaku Azuma has been named president and CEO of Canon Virginia, Inc. (CVI).